Model szczęścia

Three-part model of chronic happiness (as opposed to temporary happiness):

• About half of your happiness is biological. Each person seems to have a happiness “set point,” which accounts for roughly 50% of your
  sense of well-being. Because this set point is genetic, it’s hard to change
• Another 10% of happiness is based on circumstances—external factors beyond your control. These include biological traits like age,
  race, nationality, and gender, as well as things like marital status, occupational status, job security, and income. Your financial situation is
  part of this 10%—but only a part—which means it accounts for just a fraction of your total happiness.
• The final 40% of happiness comes from intentional activity—the things you choose to do. Whereas circumstances happen to you, intentional activity happens when you act by doing things like exercising, pursuing meaningful goals, or keeping a gratitude journal. According to the authors, because circumstances—including your financial situation—play such a small role in your general contentment, it makes more sense to boost your bliss through intentional activity, by controlling the things you can and ignoring those you can’t.

Although your financial situation plays only a small role in your overall happiness, most people believe it’s more important than that. Because
of this, many Americans spend their lives striving for more money and possessions—but find that this materialism makes them less happy.
If you’re caught up in the rat race, you may be dealing with things like credit card debt, living paycheck to paycheck, fighting with your spouse over
money, and working a job you hate. These problems all stem from one issue: lack of control. When you feel like you have no control over money,
you’re worried and stressed. By taking charge of your finances, you can get rid of many of these stressors and be happier. Wealth gives you options
and makes it easier to focus on things that can make you content.

via: Review of General Psychology 2005, art. Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change, aut. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Kennon Sheldon and David Schkade